Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor 9mm Pistol: Engineered for Unrivaled Performance

For serious competitive shooters and performance-minded enthusiasts, the search for the ultimate handgun often leads to a crucial question: "What 9mm pistol delivers a true competitive edge right out of the box?" The answer, meticulously crafted by Smith & Wesson's Performance Center, is the M&P M2.0 Competitor. This is not merely an M&P; it's a specialized instrument built for the demands of the modern shooting sports arena.

Specifically, we're focusing on the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor, model 13718, a striking two-tone variant featuring a black Armornite slide paired with a sophisticated Tungsten Gray Cerakote aluminum frame. While its sibling, the 13199 model, offers an all Tungsten Gray Cerakote finish, the 13718 distinguishes itself with this dynamic visual contrast, appealing to shooters who appreciate both aesthetics and top-tier functionality. Both models share the same foundational enhancements that make them formidable contenders.

What Defines a Competition-Ready Pistol? The M&P Competitor's Answer

The core philosophy behind the M&P M2.0 Competitor is simple: equip shooters with a firearm that minimizes variables and maximizes potential. Many competitive shooters invest significant resources in aftermarket modifications to optimize their handguns. The M&P Competitor largely eliminates this need, offering a suite of performance-enhancing features as standard.

One of the most significant upgrades is its robust metal frame design. Unlike traditional polymer-framed M&P pistols, the Competitor's aluminum frame contributes substantial weight, which is critical for recoil absorption and maintaining stability during rapid fire. This added mass helps mitigate muzzle flip, allowing for faster sight recovery and quicker, more accurate follow-up shots. For disciplines like USPSA, IDPA, or 3-Gun, where every fraction of a second and every point counts, this translates directly into a competitive advantage. Users will immediately notice a reduction in felt recoil, leading to less shooter fatigue over extended practice sessions or long match days.

Precision Engineering for Superior Control and Accuracy

At the heart of any high-performance pistol is its trigger system. The M&P M2.0 Competitor boasts an enhanced sear and the M2.0 flat-faced trigger. This combination delivers a lighter, crisper trigger let-off compared to standard M&P triggers. The flat face promotes consistent finger placement, crucial for repeatable trigger pulls and improved accuracy. Shooters can experience a predictable break, aiding in precise shot placement, whether engaging distant steel targets or rapidly transitioning between close-range arrays. This level of trigger refinement is typically found in custom-tuned firearms, making its inclusion here a significant value proposition.

The 5-inch barrel further enhances accuracy, providing an optimal sight radius for precision shooting. This longer barrel also contributes to slightly increased muzzle velocity, which can be beneficial for making power factor in certain competition divisions or simply for improved downrange performance. Paired with this, the slide lightening cuts on both the top and sides of the slide serve a dual purpose: they reduce the overall reciprocating mass of the slide, which contributes to an improved recoil balance point, and they also add a distinctive, aggressive aesthetic. This thoughtful design helps the pistol cycle smoothly and predictably.

Optimized for Speed: Reloads and Target Acquisition

Speed is paramount in competitive shooting. The M&P M2.0 Competitor addresses this with several key features:

• Flared Magazine Well: This oversized, aggressively flared magwell acts like a funnel, guiding magazines into the frame effortlessly, even under duress. This drastically reduces the time required for reloads, allowing competitors to maintain momentum and shave precious seconds off their stage times.
• Oversized and Reversible Magazine Release: Positioned for quick access, the generously sized magazine release ensures positive engagement every time. Its reversible design accommodates both right-handed and left-handed shooters, offering ergonomic flexibility without requiring specialized tools or additional parts.
• Optics-Ready Slide & High-Visibility Sights: The slide is precisely cut to accept a wide range of popular red dot optics, providing modern shooters with the ability to mount their preferred aiming solution. This allows for faster target acquisition and improved accuracy, particularly for shooters with aging eyes or those who simply prefer the speed of an optic. Complementing this, the pistol features a high-contrast fiber optic front sight paired with a blacked-out serrated rear sight. This sight configuration offers an excellent traditional sight picture, making the pistol competition-ready even without an optic, or serving as a reliable backup.

Ergonomics and User Adaptability: A Natural Extension of the Shooter

A comfortable and secure grip is foundational to good shooting. The M&P M2.0 Competitor excels here, building on the well-regarded M&P M2.0 ergonomics:

• Optimal 18-degree Grip Angle: This specific angle promotes a natural point of aim, meaning when you bring the pistol up, the barrel naturally aligns with your eye and target, requiring less correction. This intuitive alignment helps shooters get on target faster and more consistently.
• Four Interchangeable Palm Swell Grip Inserts: Recognizing that every shooter's hand is unique, Smith & Wesson includes four different grip inserts (Small, Medium, Medium-Large, Large). These palm swells allow users to customize the grip circumference and trigger reach, ensuring an optimal, secure fit that enhances control and reduces fatigue during extended shooting sessions.
• Textured Polymer Front Strap: While the frame is metal, a textured polymer front strap provides a tactile, non-slip surface, ensuring a firm hold even with sweaty hands or under adverse conditions.
• Low Barrel Bore Axis: This design principle positions the barrel closer to the shooter's hand, directly in line with the forearm. The result is a substantial reduction in muzzle rise during recoil, translating to less disruptive muzzle flip and significantly faster aim recovery for subsequent shots. This feature is a hallmark of the M&P line and is particularly beneficial for competition.

Unwavering Reliability and Thoughtful Safety Features

Beyond performance, reliability is paramount for any firearm. The M&P M2.0 Competitor is built to the high standards of the Smith & Wesson Performance Center, ensuring consistent operation round after round. It includes a Picatinny-style rail on the frame, allowing for easy attachment of lights, lasers, or other accessories, enhancing its versatility for various applications, including home defense or duty use.

Safety and ease of maintenance are also integrated into the design. The M&P's patented take-down lever and sear deactivation systems enable safe disassembly without requiring the user to pull the trigger. This is a significant safety advantage for cleaning and maintenance, reducing the risk of accidental discharge.

The pistol comes generously equipped with four 17-round magazines, providing ample capacity for competitive stages and minimizing the need for constant reloads at the range. This value-added inclusion underscores its readiness for serious competition.

For specific details and specifications, you can always refer to the official Smith & Wesson 13199 M&P Performance Center M2.0 Competitor 9mm Spec Sheet and the Smith & Wesson M&P Performance Center M2.0 Competitor 9mm Luger Owner's Manual, which provides comprehensive information on operation, maintenance, and safety.

Why Choose the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor (Model 13718)?

For those asking, "What's the best 9mm handgun for competitive shooting?", or "How can I improve my speed and accuracy in pistol competitions?", the M&P M2.0 Competitor offers a compelling answer. It's an investment in performance, providing features that typically require extensive aftermarket customization, all within a factory-built, reliable package.

• Ready for Competition: Built from the ground up for competitive shooting disciplines, minimizing the need for immediate upgrades.
• Enhanced Performance: Superior trigger, reduced recoil, and faster reloads directly translate to better scores and faster times.
• Ergonomic Adaptability: Customizable grip options ensure a perfect fit for any shooter, enhancing control and comfort.
• Durable Construction: The metal frame provides robust reliability and contributes to recoil management.
• Optics Ready: Future-proofed for modern aiming solutions, offering versatility for different shooting preferences.
• Complete Package: Ships with four magazines, providing exceptional value and convenience.

Whether you're an experienced competitor looking to gain an edge, or a dedicated enthusiast seeking a high-performance pistol for the range and personal defense, the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor (13718) stands as a testament to Smith & Wesson's commitment to innovation and shooter satisfaction. This pistol is designed to help you achieve your personal best, offering an unmatched blend of speed, accuracy, and reliability.

Video Overview: Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor

Key Specifications of the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Competitor 9mm Pistol (Model 13718)

Feature	Detail
Caliber	9mm Luger
Capacity	17+1 Rounds
Barrel Length	5 inches
Frame Material	Aluminum (Tungsten Gray Cerakote)
Slide Material	Steel (Black Armornite finish)
Sights	Fiber Optic Front, Blacked-out Serrated Rear
Optics Ready	Yes (Slide Cut for Optics)
Trigger	M2.0 Flat Face with Enhanced Sear
Magazines Incl.	Four (17-round capacity)
Grip Inserts	Four Interchangeable Palm Swell (S, M, ML, L)
Rail Type	Picatinny-style
UPC	022188892901
SKU	13718